Motor-vehicle spring suspension.



. While the other end GEORGE F. VOIGHT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFGRNIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

i MOTOR-VEHICLE SPR-ING SUSPENSION.

To all whom haar #"onoern."

Be it known th t I. Gannon I?. YoienT. a citizen `of the 'f ni :l States. residing at San F ancisco. .ntie county of San Francisco and State ,ofy .'alifornia. have invented .new and useful llr.'.prrnfements in Motor-Vev hicle Spring Suspensions. of whichthe fol lowinr,r is a specification.

y invention 'relates to motor vehicle spi-iin;- suspensions in which leversand aux iliarv springs cooperate with the' vehicles principal leaf spring` (lne of the objects of my imln'ovements being to provide means for assisting` the principal leaf spring to cushion the vehicle Iagainst the 'unevenness of the road. particularlv forthe lminor unevennessesg an other object being to provide means for such 1'. r ose in which an oscillator)7 lever pivoter-,l at 'one end to the vehicle running-gear of lthe lever .is coupled up 'with a portion-of the vehicle that is resilientlyy supportedl and in which an outer end of the principal leaf spring is `supported by the lever; with `other and further objects and purpose-s 4in -iew which will appear Vas the description proceeds. the invention ,resides in thef com'l'iination and arrangement of iarts and in the details of construction hereinafter descrihedand claimed, it being understood .that y,changes in the precise e1nliiodnnent of the invention herein dlsclosed can he made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

- In tl1e'drawinps- Figure l is area'r-end elevation` of -a por tion. of the right-hand Vside of a motor ve hicle with my improvements applied thereto. Fig.=? is a `vertical sectional view of the invention-and a portion of the vehicles principal leaf spring. FigLB- is `a sectional view on lineA b, l".i; l is a' sectional view on' hne a ag Fig.

1 .,with the auxiliary coil` spring removed.

4Fig. 'is a Vsectional view, Figi?.

Fig. 6 isva sectional view on line c. e, Fig.

7, of a modified form.

Fig. T an elevation .of a portion of the invention in ,almodifiedforni. on line .0 c, Fig- 1f.'

Specification of Letters Patent. Application tiled May 4. 191'8. Serial No.232,609.

. upper end of the 4spring Patented font.. s, *1.91.s.

Fig. t) is a plan `view of a portion of the inventim. cert-ain parts being; in section.

Fig. 1 0 is a rear elevation of a portion of the .vehicle frame and principal leaf spring and a fragment of the invention in a modi;` fied form.

Lilie numerals referto like ont'the several figures.

Referringl to the dra'wings,-

:l designates a vehicle frame supported hv a bowed principal leaf spring y. over-hanfr-y ing and extending` in a gener-.1l direction with an axle 3. To the :1X-le if is rigidly secured an tip-standing perch l provided with a tansvmsely extending opening 5 at its upper end. in which is rr'it'atahlv fitted a .pivot pin (S pivotally' supporting one endA of an oscillator)1 leaf spring lever l prefer to makethe lever T out of two pieces `of flat resiliently ficivihle steel of dimensions con-` sistelrt with the recpiirements.,disposed flat, side to flat side, however any number of leaves maybe employed as desired and as may he found expedient. To Aone end of theleaves forming the lever 7. I rigidly secure a'base S. provided for said purpose with a chaniber. 9 which is open at one end for 'thc entrance of ysaid ends of the leaves. The said ends of the leaves being furthersecured in thel chamber b v means of a rivet 10 extending through-both the upper and lower walls of the chamber and through saidends. The hase- 8' forms fthe pivotal point for the lever 7, and for that purpose is'provided with a pair of downwardly extending ears 11 11 havingv openings 1Q 12 through which thel outer-'ends ofthe pivot pin G. The hase .8 also forms a seat for a coil con'ipression spring 13. the functions of which will here i iafterbe fullyexplained. At thel inner or free end. of one of the leaves forming' Ithe lever 7 is zr transverse .opening 14 fitted' with a pivot p iny 15 supported by a latorY links'fl .1G-supported at their lower ends -hy a pivot pin- '1T supported by the free ends of an inverted stirrupflS seated upon and supported by the'prin'cipal leaf s )ring Q. 19 is a hanger having a comparan tivelyV large central opening or -slot- 20, Aand embodying a'pair ofside pices 21 21 disposed one 4on each side ofthe base 8 and the spring parts through-` 13. an upper end 2:! seated uponlthe 13 andpprovided extend I 90 ios with a pair of up-stzuidingears 23 23 spaced a'distance apart and having openings'24 2l fitted with a pivot pin 25, and a lower end piece 2G disposed below the 'base 8 and prof 'vided with an opening 27 in which is rotaeral direction therewith and having its inner ,4 end closely coupled up with the inner -or free end of the latter by means of the pivot pin 15. downwardly intermediate its ends and adapted to bear downwardly opera-tively upon the intermediate portion of the {iexible lever with its outer o r free end disposed at a distance above the latter, and resiliently yieldingly held at said distance by the tension of said flexible lever. It will therefore be seen that the hanger 19, to the upper end of .which the outer or free end of the nonflexible lever is -connected and to the lower end of which cipal leaif v spring is coupled, is yieldingly supported by the resiliency of the -outer en d of' the fiexible lever 7, -a'nd4 that4 the arrange'ment'may resiliently support an end 'ofthe principal leaf spring. also resiliently supported by the compression coil spring 13 confined inthe 'opening 20 of the hanger, 'between the upper end of the latter .and the upper side ofthe basev 8.

The base Shaving on its upper side a'circu lar concaved portion forming aA seat for the lower end of the compression spring 13. l

32 32 designates,a pair of oscillatory 'radius links having their outer ends pivotally supported by the pivot pin 6 and disposed between the ears 11 1 1and theperch 4 andv their innerpor free ends flexibly coupled to the pivot'pin 28 and disposed between the shackle links -29 29 and the lower end piece 26., Said links being adapted to guide the lower end piece 26 along .a predetermined line or lcourse-in yits upwardly and downwardly movements. The outer ends of the 1inks'32 32 may, ,of course, be equally w ell disposed andpivoted on-the pivotv 1n 6 at theoutsideof the ears 1111 as at t e inner side thereof, and if so Vdesired they may be l 'ivotally supported by the-perch 4 at a'point'V elow the pivotal point of the flexible lever 7 as plainly shown in'Figs. 6 VandA 7 which show a modification of the preferred form. ends ofthe links may be pivota-lly supported at a suitable -point on the base 8 at-a proper distance from .the hanger 19.

,In the modification lshownin Fig. 10, the inverted stirrup18 and the links 16 16 used with the preferred form, are

facilitate designating the relative position of The non-flexible lever 31 is bowedA the outer end of the prin-d -ver 'having its outer end pivotally supported The. hanger 19 is Y vtively vertically' movable supportfor its in ends. adapted to supporta dispensed with,l

and the inner' ends ofthe` levers 7 and 31are suspended'froni the frame 1 by means of a bifurcated hanger 33 straddling the frame from the upper side thereof and having its 1two depending `arms pivota'lly connected to the pivot pin 15.

While I have shown my invention as ap; plied to the rear right-hand side of avehicle, it is to be understood that itis applica` ble to the left-hand side as well as to the right-hand side, and to the .fr'ont as well -as to the'rear4 lof any vehicle.

Throughout the foregoing specification and lthe claims hereinafter following to the different portions and members composing the several parts of the invention, the term, outer end, or, Aouter ends, shall designate the end or ends neare t to the outer end of the vehicle a'xle,.and the term, inner end, or, inner ends, shall designate the end or ends farthest from said outer end of the vehicle axle. The outer end of the vehicle axle meaning, of course, the end on the side ofthe car to which the device is applied.

I claim: n

1. The combination iviththe frame, Vaxle and principal leaf spring of a motor vehicle, ofv-an oscillatory vflexible leaf spring lethe axle and having 'a relatively movableA support for its .inner end, the lever being disposed above an 'outer section of the principalleaf spring andextends in a general direction therewith,. a coiled compression spring seated 'upon the lever intermediate `its ends, and a connection between said compress sionA spring and one end off the principal leaf spring.

- 2. The combination with thelframe, axle and princi )al leaf spring of amotor vehicl'el of an' oscillatory flexible leverzpivotallysupportedat its outer'endby the axle, a -relanerend, a' coiled compression spring seated upon said lever `ad]acen`t,1ts outer end, a

hanger having:sectionsextendingfa-boveand Y i 4 tl i below said' lever, a connect-ion betwe upper section 4of the hanger and sai pression spring whereby said 'compression 1;16 spring may refsiliently support said hanger, said hanger being slidable longitudinally of n itselfr'elativelylto the lever, and a vconnection betweenthe lower section of the hanger 120.

and one end of the principal leaf spring.

3. Ina Vdevice, of the character described, the -conibinatioliv able support for its inne; nd, ryingl a ycoil compression pri between its hanger having an upper -l section extending u above the lever' and a lower section exten .with an oscillatoryv lever .'f pivotally supported at its outerend .by the -vehicles axle'and havin; l ritively mov-Y 'ne lever car- '125;'

ing below the lever, the hanger beng'niovnblqlongitudimu. 11 l against the tension of of itsarlt` relatively to the lever with and said compression spring, the hanger being adapted to support one end of the vehicles principal leaf spring, of an oscillatory radius link having its inner end flexibly coupled to said lower section of the hanger and its outer lend pivotallysupported by a relatively stationary support.`

4, The combination with the frame, axle and rincipal leaf spring of a motor vehicleyof an oscillatory lever pivotally sup.-

`ported at its outer end by the axle. a -connection between the inner end of the lever and a support vertically movable relativelv to the axle, a coil compressioi'i springsseated upon the lever intermediate its'ends an element having a sect-ion extending .'above the lever supported by said compression spring. and another section extending down v belowv'the lever 4pivotally coi'mected to one end of the principal leaf sjiiring` and a ra dius link havingr its inner end pivotally connected to said element and its outer end pivotally.connectedto the axle. r Y

5. In a device of the character described, the combination Vwith an oscillatory lever flexibly coupledatits outer end to the Vvehicle axle,

ner end of said lever of the veand a portion hicle'subject to rebound, of a spring ear- 4ried by said lever intermediate its ends. said spring havingr a free end projecting npwardly from said lever, said free end being movable downwardly relativelj7 to sai lever against the tension of said spring, a

hanger' havingY its upper end supported by said free end of the spring and its lower end pivotally support-ing one end of the vehicle-s irincipal leaf spring, an oscillatory1 radius link having one end pivoted4 to said lower end of the hanger, and a pivotal sup port for the other end of said radius link: said hanger being,v movable relatively to said pivot-al support.

G. In' a device of the the combination with an oscillatory character described, lever having a pivotal support for its outer end and a relatively movable support for its mner end. of-a second leverv disposed above said oscillatory lever and extending ina general directiontherewith, a nonresilientconnection between the levers adjacent their inner ends, and a resilient connectionbe tween 4the levers adjacent their outerends. the second lever being' adapted to support one end ofthe vehicles principal leaf spring.'

7. In a device of the character described. the combination leaf sprinalever ot ally supported by inner end supported by support, of a non-lexible lever having;` its outer cndpivthe vehicle's axle and its a relatively movable disposed above said tlexible'lever and cxtendingin. therewith, a connection' 4 between the inner ends and a connection between the 1nv ver having its outer end with au oscillatory tlexible "hicle, of an oscillatoryflexible leaf spring lever having its outer ported by the axle. the lever having a tion'disposed above an outer sect-ion of the principal leafspring. a connection between the inner end of the levers and a support vertically movable relatively'to the axle. a second lever disposed above said oscillatory lever and extending in a general direction therewith. a substantially7 rigid connection of the levers. a ser! tion'of each of 'said levers interuualiate their ends being in bearing engagement with each other. the -outcr ends of the levers beA ing normallyT spaced a distance apart. aud a connection between the outer end ot the serond mentioned lever and one end of the priu cipal leaf spring.

`9. The combination with the frame. axle` and principal leaf spring of ,a motor vchicle, of an oscillatorviiexible leaf spring lever having its outer end pivotally supported by the axle, a connection between the. inner .end i cally movable relatively to the axle. a nonlexible lever disposed above said .flexible end pivotally sup! lever and extending Vin a `leneral direction therewithfa connection between the inner ends of the ,levers` a section of the non-tiexble lever intermediate. its ends,A being disposed in bearing engagement with arcgis teringsection of the flexible. lever. the levers being spaced apart'adjacent their outer ends. Iand a connection between Vthe non exible lever adjacent its outer end and oueend of the Vprincipal leaf spring. 10. The. combination with the frame, axle and principal leaf spring.r of a motor vehicle. of an oscillatory flexible leaf spring.r lepivotally supporte by the axle. a relatively movable support for its inner ent, anon-flexible lever dis'- iosed above thetlexible. leve and extending between thel levers adjacent their innerends,"

the, lever? beingr adapted to supun of the lever anda support vcrtilio' iis

in a general direction therewith. the noni 12o4 being such that.

ver and normally vielding'ly maintained a, i.

said upwardly projected position by thel` tensionofthe flexible lever. 'and a pivotal connection between cent. its outer fend and one end cipal leaf spring.

V: 11. The combination with thefrarnmaxle the iu'm-tlexiblelever adja Oftl'ieprin'- and principal leaf spring of-a motor vehi- `cle,'of an oscillatory flexible leaf spring le- -ver'having its outer end pivotally supported deected upwardly from a registering sec-` tion of the flexible lever, said upwardly delected section beingmovable downwardly against the tension 'of the flexible lever, and a link `connect-ion between the non-flexible lever adjacentits outer end and one end of.

the principal leaf spring.

12, In a device of the character described, an oscillatory flexible leaf spring levr havin its Outer end pivotally support-ed by the veicle axle, a non-resilient connection be` tween the. ,inner end of the lever-and a support movable relatively to the axle, and a- -cle-s principal leaf spring.

13. In a device of tlie'cbaracter described,

an oscillatory flexible leaf spring lever havin its Aouter end pivotally connected to the veiicle' axle, a non-resilient connection between t-he inner end of tle lever and a support vertically movable relatively to the axle, and a pivotal connection between the lever intermediate its ends yand one end of the vehicles principal leaf spring'.

14. In a device of the character described, an oscillatory lever having its outer end piv otally connected to ay support rigidly supported by the vehicle axle, a relatively movable support for the inner end of the lever, a connection between one end of the vehicles principal leaf spring and said first mentioned support. said connection comprising a plurality of links, and a resilient con- I iection between a sect-ion of said links and the' lever intermediatedts ends.

GEORGE F. voiGH'r. 

